Interview With Mr. George Papa, Founder and Owner of Ready to Show Milano
READY TO SHOW is back physically in Milan after 3 years’ stop because of COVID. During that period, we have launched a virtual show and a permanent showcase: www.readytoshow.online which is still active but nothing is like a physical trade show, especially in the fashion business!
Can you tell us a bit about Ready to Show Milano?
READY TO SHOW to be held from July 11 to 13, one week after Paris’ twin shows P.V. and TEXWORLD, stronger than ever with 150 exhibitors from 15 countries, traditional ones, and rare ones, for the first time in Milan :
+AREA ITALIA to introduce MADE IN ITALY production partners for European reshoring
+Emerging designers’ booths and fashion shows
+Round tables and international presentations
+B2Bs
+Hospitality program for V.I.P. Buyers
This year’s event promises to be exciting, with a diverse lineup of fashion professionals from around the world.
What is the reason why Milan is a great place for organizing fashion and apparel exhibitions?
Milan IS Fashion!
Milan is so INSPIRING for all fashion lovers. Fashion retail in Milan is not only in the famous “Quadrilatero della Moda” which is the source of inspiration for world fashion people.
as you know Italy has a great history and background in the textile industry and nowadays Italy offers the best yarns and fabrics to the world with high quality and fantastic technics.
Italian fashion trends are followed by millions of fashionistas all over the world and It concerns all sorts of consumers and not only high fashion.
Also Milan is the world capital of elegance and affordable fashion. May I add that everybody loves the Italian lifestyle, easygoing cuisine and very human behavior toward international visitors,
Last Edition of Ready To Show Milano
Last edition was in 2019, before COVID and before many changes in European attitude towards sustainability. READY TO SHOW was a “Chinese ” show with the majority of exhibitors being Chinese. This is the reason why the show was canceled in February 2020!
Visitors were 70% Italian from all regions and the other 30% were mainly Europeans. We have decided to put a limit on the number of Chinese exhibitors. They will not exceed 15 % of the total number in the coming July edition.
There will be at the same level, Turkey and India, the 2 other big players, and, above all, the other 12 countries to share the remaining 50%.
According to our market research conducted last year, more European buyers should participate with the objective of finding also Italian suppliers.
Why textile companies in the fashion and textile sector should exhibit in this exhibition.
First of all, for almost all non-EU countries, READY TO SHOW is the one and only exhibition open to their participation.
Based on this reason, All Italian buyers know since the first edition of READY TO SHOW in 2001 that this is the place to find non-European suppliers!
To complete the scenario, we have added conferences, fashion shows, B2Bs and social occasions for networking.
The Exhibition is organized in the biggest Hotel Convention Center in Milan with 550 rooms. We have organized a program to invite VIP Buyers to stay with us there. Hotel rooms for exhibitors are at an unbeatable rate!
Our motto is” WE ARE THE WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION PARTNERS FOR ITALIAN FASHION “, Nowadays, to be a partner of Italian fashion is the best certificate that a supplier can show to others That deserves to make some effort to get it.
Let us know about the range of products that exhibit in this show.
All Textiles and Finished products are Welcome to next edition of ready-to-show, Anyway, we aim to show what Italian buyers are looking for !
For sure, garments and knitwear production partners are the most requested. All suppliers will have to demonstrate that they pay attention to sustainability in all aspects.
The ones offering medium-low M.O.Q. will have the preference of mid-range buyers which are the majority in Italy and Europe.
READY TO SHOW Milano welcome many international visitors and exhibitors, especially from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa, what do you think about the textile and apparel sector in this region (Turkey, Middle East and North Africa) ?
There are already and there should be even more strategic alliances between the Northern and Southern parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
When there is limited knowledge of potentialities among individual players, ( should I say Ignorance ), of course, many opportunities get lost. We are the go-between to facilitate better contacts.
Complementarity is so obvious :
– Turkish fabrics and the Tunisian garments industry, for instance, are already working together,…Italian branding is the cherry on the cake.
– Emirates is a fantastic hub for the import, and export of the whole category and an exceptional consumer market for high-end Italian brands.
Do you have any seminars and conferences organized during the ready-to-show Milano?
Thanks for this question!
We have a program of conferences and round-tables with Italian and international speakers covering mainly 3 themes :
- Sustainability and New Requirements of European Consumer, Recycling, Circular Fashion…
- Sourcing Best practices
- Market opportunities
Conclusion:
READY TO SHOW has the mission of being at the crossroad of 2 worlds and we are aware of the growing importance of Africa and the Mediterranean area that I personally consider as a CHANCE / OPPORTUNITY for Europe.
Let’s work to build a platform of mutual interests in the fields of Textile / Fashion industry and trade. Welcome exhibitors and visitors from the MENA Region.
We will make all necessary efforts under multiple aspects to facilitate a growing presence at our fair.
